v2.0 of SecondRun.tv has been released this week – it’s a plugin for Windows Media Center which brings together a host of online media into a familiar guide format, split by channel. A wide variety of media types are supported, including Netflix and Hulu channels, flash based video content, streaming video from the web, video from RSS feeds as well as locally stored video such as DVD rips.
A channel builder application allows you to configure each channel exactly as you wish it to appear in Media Center, and if you’re too lazy to do that, you can download channels other users have contributed to SecondRun.tv’s channel repository.
Features as follows:
Access content from almost any source in a single familiar guide based interface
The guide is designed to provide users with a familiar environment to access content that is otherwise more difficult to access in Media Center. Content sources can range from video files to flash based content from websites like Hulu to streaming content from the web.
Video content can be played continuously providing a more TV like experience
If you create a channel based on video files from local folders or from RSS feeds that contain enclosures (like video podcasts) SecondRun.tv will automatically create a playlist containing the items in the current channel and play them one right after the other. This allows you to put a channel on and leave it on for several hours with constantly needing to go back and start another episode or movie.
Turns your remote control number pad or keyboard number pad into a virtual mouse
Easily navigate web based flash players and click on features of the player using a virtual mouse programmed into your remote control. The feature allows you to take full advantage of Flash based players like the excellent ESPN3.com player with 4 feed viewing and picture in picture. If you can open the site in a standard web browser you can easily control the site using SecondRun.tv.
Speed optimized guide for fast viewing and guide access
All the heavy lifting and internet requests are done through the Channel Builder application. The Channel Builder outputs a simple guide in XML format make the guide interface in SecondRun.tv very fast.
Page through guide days very easily and access shows you might have missed
All the guide data pulled by the Channel Builder is saved and accessible in SecondRun.tv. Using the page up and down buttons on your remote you can easily page through previous days guides and access shows that you might have missed. NOTE: this feature will not extend the availability of any of the web based content available from site like Hulu, etc.
Partial support for Media Center Extenders
Any true video based content can be accessed through a Media Center Extender like the XBOX 360. Flash based players are still NOT accessible through Extenders.
Netflix items will automatically go full screen
When watching Netflix based content they player will automatically go full screen after a few seconds.
Channel Builder Features
Download channels from our online channel repository
At lauch there will be a variety of channels available for download through the Channel Builders download feature.
Submit your channels to be added to our repository
Create some channels that you think others would like? Submit them to our channel repository… Pending a review process they will be added to our channel reposity for others to download and enjoy.
Easily create your own channels
Creating your own channels is easy! With just a few clicks you can create a channel and start adding show content.
Support for a wide range of content types
You can added shows based on several different content types:
- Web based RSS feeds with video enclosures (video podcasts)
- Web based RSS feeds with links to flash based content (sites like Hulu, etc).
- Netflix watch instantly content (requires a Netflix subscription)
- Local folder feeds (folders/sub-folders that contain video files)
- Website links (link to websites that are streaming video)
- Media based stream links (any internet based stream in a media format)
Netflix Content Browser
The Channel Builder includes and easy to use Netflix content browser that allows you to easily add content to your guide that is based on Netflix instant streaming content.
Easily copy and move shows from day to day
You can easily move your shows from day to day in the Channel Builder… you can also easily duplicate your shows from one day to another… this allows you to easily add shows that you want in your guide on multiple days.Schedule your guide processing to run daily
You can setup a schedule for you guide data to be processed daily. That allows you to have a fresh updated guide whenever you open SecondRun.tv in media center.Duplicate your guide data to other machines on your network
If you have multiple PCs on your network running Media Center you can use the Channel Builder on a single machine and have it duplicate the channel data to the other machines on your network. You can also use this feature to manage your guide data on a machine other than your main Media Center PC.
Secondrun.tv costs $3.99 and is available now from, you guessed it, http://www.secondrun.tv
